Hypersensitivity vasculitis

Editor: unassigned

Article Contributors:

Sean Klepper M.D.

Stephen Lyle, M.D., ...

Clinical Features:

A variety of drugs can cause a vasculitic reaction, one of the many possible forms of drug reactions.

Even among drug-induced vasculitides, there are several described patterns, with particular drugs associated with each. These include: leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, pustular vasculitis, pigmenary purpura and polyarteritis nodosa-like reactions.

Vasculitis confined to the superficial vascular plexus, consisting of fibrinoid degeneration and a predominantly neutrophilic inflammation of the vessel walls, with karyorrhexis ("nuclear dust") of the neutrophil nuclei ("leukocytoclasia")

Tissue eosinophilia

Red blood cell extravasation is frequently present.

The epidermis may be normal or may show necrosis, vesiculation or pustulation.